A brutal knife assault on Herdecke’s newly elected mayor has left the small Ruhr-region town in disbelief. The victim, a 57-year-old SPD politician, suffered multiple stab wounds in what investigators now describe as a “domestic incident with tragic escalation.”
Emergency services were called shortly after midday on Tuesday, when a teenager phoned police reporting an attack outside the family home.
Responders found the woman inside the house, bleeding heavily but still conscious. She was rushed to a Bochum hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery and is now reported to be in stable condition.
Initial confusion over motive and suspects
At first, police launched a large-scale search for multiple alleged attackers based on the emergency call. However, investigators quickly found inconsistencies at the scene — no signs of forced entry or robbery.
Within 24 hours, the focus shifted: detectives concluded that the injuries may have been inflicted inside the house, and that a family member could be involved.
According to police sources cited by public broadcasters, the victim later provided a statement from hospital identifying her 17-year-old adopted daughter as the suspected attacker.
The teenager was subsequently detained and placed in a psychiatric facility for juveniles, pending further evaluation.
Investigators rule out political motive
Authorities have emphasized that the attack was not politically motivated. The mayor had been elected only days earlier and was scheduled to officially take office in early November.
The Prosecutor’s Office in Hagen confirmed that the investigation is proceeding on suspicion of “serious bodily harm” rather than attempted murder, partly because the suspect herself called for medical help after the incident — a factor considered as partial withdrawal from the act under German law.
Police had been alerted before
According to several local reports, police had previously been called to the family home following domestic conflicts earlier in the year.
The mayor had allegedly sought assistance from social services, citing increasing aggression and fear for her safety.
One day before the stabbing, she reportedly visited a police station in the neighbouring town of Wetter to express concerns that she felt threatened.
Officers confirmed that “a report was filed and appropriate measures were taken,” without providing further details.
Community in shock
Residents of Herdecke, a town of about 23,000 people near Dortmund, have reacted with deep sympathy and disbelief. The local SPD chapter called the incident “a human tragedy that has shaken all of us.”
Psychologists and youth welfare authorities are now examining the background of the adopted children and whether early intervention could have prevented the violence.
Mayor remains under protection
The victim remains hospitalized under police protection. Her recovery is expected to take several weeks. The investigation into the circumstances of the attack and the exact sequence of events is ongoing.
